Councillor slams decision to remove ‘vital’ Carelink service for elderly and vulnerable High Peak residents
A councillor has slammed the decision made by High Peak Borough Council that will see a much needed and much used support service removed in the autumn.
High Peak Borough Council announced on June, 16 that from the end of September the Carelink service will no longer be in use due to long-standing issues with maintaining safe staffing levels.
Carelink is an alarm system which enables elderly, vulnerable and disabled people to live independently by allowing them to call a contact centre and seek help from a trained member of staff 24 hours a day from anywhere in their home or garden.
Councillor Kath Sizeland for Chapel-en-le-Frith said: “Councillor Kath Sizeland This is a shocking decision and I don’t believe High Peak Borough Council are giving this the scrutiny it deserves.
“It will leave vulnerable and elderly people more vulnerable and will have unsafe outcomes and this should not be happening.”
Councillor Sizeland says she has requested an extraordinary general meeting for councillors to discuss this but it has been allocated for part 2 - the private part of a meeting where the press and public are excluded.
She said: “That’s another thing which is so wrong with this.
“We need to be having a public discussion where people can voice their concerns and be heard.
“I think the council are underplaying this and I will be doing all I can to stop this going ahead for the 1,550 people who use the service across the borough and their families too.”
Councillor Sizeland said: “The alternatives providers the council are suggesting residents sign up to do not include a fall response which means people who do fall will not get the help they need.
“For many vulnerable residents, rapid response after a fall can be crucial. I fear this decision could have serious consequences if adequate alternatives are not in place.
“Carelink also helps reduce unnecessary ambulance call-outs, easing pressure on the NHS while ensuring residents receive the right support when they need it.”
David Mellor contacted the Advertiser about the decision which has been made by HPBC.
He said: “My dad is a fall risk and Carelink have literally saved him from going into hospital many times, without this service I don’t know what we’re going to do. I imagine many families are feeling the same.”
He said the decision was ‘devastating’ and the impact this will have on vulnerable people and their families is ‘massive’.
Without the fall response team David said: “This will mean vulnerable people lying on the floor for hours, which for some could mean long term medical care or even death.”
Maggie Holmes agreed and said: “I feel totally panicked about this.
“When my elderly mum falls, the Carelink people go to her home, and use an inflatable lifting cushion to get her up off the floor. Mum is usually on the floor for around 20 mins before they arrive.”
High Peak Borough Executive councillor for housing, Fiona Sloman, added: “This has been a very difficult decision to make.
“We haven’t done so lightly and have made every effort to keep the service going despite the issues with staffing levels but safety has to be our priority.”